[il-talk] Proving your blindness

[Harris Singer]

Hi Lesilie, Harris (Harreese) Singer here. I owe you a phone call as well:)

On 2/16/16, Leslie Hamric via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> ? This is an interesting perspective as well. Who wrote this one?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Feb 16, 2016, at 6:10 PM, Harris Singer via il-talk
>> <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Leslie
>> Nice and intriguing question. For me living in a world not designed
>> logistically for people without sight calls me to be creative in how I
>> navigate the ins and outs of life inside and outside my home. On
>> occasion I'm accused of “proving something" and when I am I tell
>> people it's not about proving something, it’s about me expressing my
>> creativity in doing things non-visually. When I frame it this way
>> people seem to respect that and give me my space. I don’t’ think I’ve
>> ever been accused of having an attitude, but I have been accused of
>> being stubborn. I don’t mind these accusations either way. It does
>> sometimes create an awkward moment when my insistence, or perceived
>> insistence, of doing things my way creates tension with sighted
>> people. I do live the life I want, but I’m not an island either. I
>> have heard stories for years from sighted people of how blind people
>> create very poor impressions of blindness and these stories make me
>> cringe, especially when the blind person is clearly in the wrong.
>> There is a diplomatic balance in doing things my way and not being
>> labeled as difficult to work or interact with. Some in our community
>> care about striking this balance more than others and fortunately
>> there’s room for all of us.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 2/16/16, pattischang--- via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I'm not sure how to express my thoughts on this. But, I do believe that
>>> there's a basic expectation that we should be grateful for any and all
>>> assistance and we should not be assertive. This comes across in many
>>> ways.
>>> It comes across in people's comments but it also comes across every time
>>> someone says please honey you just sit and I will get it for you. I would
>>> love to hear others' thoughts on this. It might even make a good article
>>> for
>>> our newsletter.
>>>
>>> Along similar lines, it concerns me that some of us seem to be more
>>> passive
>>> than is needed. In other words are we taught to sit back and wait?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Live the life you want.  Every day we raise the expectations of blind
>>> people in the National Federation of the Blind.
>>>
>>> Patti S. Gregory-Chang
>>> NFBI Treasurer
>>> NFB Scholarship Comm. Chair
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Feb 16, 2016, at 2:54 PM, Leslie Hamric via il-talk
>>> <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Interesting. I have been told the same thing, that  I have an attitude.
>>> And
>>> I have not gone through an nfb  training center. But if you think of it,
>>> it's that attitude that has  got me where I am today.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Feb 16, 2016, at 2:42 PM, Robert Gardner via il-talk
>>>> <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> For me, a guy who once couldn't do much of anything for himself, then
>>>> went
>>>> through blindness training and learned he could do just about anything,
>>>> I
>>>> feel I'm proving that I can do things all the time. If I go out on a
>>>> walk
>>>> or travel on the bus, part of that experience is proving to myself I can
>>>> do it. If someone says, "Can I help you with xxx," my basic reaction is
>>>> I'm going to prove to that person I can do it myself. Maybe I have an
>>>> attitude, but that's me. And I've been told those who've gone through an
>>>> NFB training center come out with an attitude. All in all, I think it's
>>>> a
>>>> healthy attitude for a blind person.
>>>>
>>>> Bob Gardner
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leslie Hamric via il-talk"
>>>> <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> To: "Iltalk" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: "Leslie Hamric" <lhamric930 at comcast.net>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 7:34 AM
>>>> Subject: [il-talk] Proving your blindness
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hey guys. I have a question. I'm sure you've all been told somewhere
>>>>> along the way that you spent a lot of time proving that you can do
>>>>> things
>>>>> in spite of your blindness. How do you  react to this  statement? I
>>>>> think
>>>>> this topic could start a good discussion.
>>>>> Leslie
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
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